2.It was a fair and glorious sight That gallant bark to see，With floating streamers，glittering bright In pomp of chivalry；The smooth sea blessed her as she flew，The gentle gale impelled，As if each crested billow knew What wealth her bosom held.
a Gallia.-Gaul；the Latin name of France.
b Albion.-England；so called，it is said，on account of the white cliffs of the south coast；from Latin albus，white.
3.But strangely o‘er the summer sky A sable cloud arose；And hollow winds，careering high，Rushed on like armed foes.
Loud thunders roll，wild tempests rave，Red lightnings cleave the sky-What is yon wreck amid the wave？
And whence that fearful cry？
4.See！see！amid the foaming surge There seems a speck to float；And，with such speed as oars can urge，Toils on the labouring boat.
The Prince is safe；but to his ear There came a distant shriek，Which to his strained eye brought the tear，And paleness to his cheek.
5.That voice！’twas by his cradle side，When with sweet dream he slept；-It ruled his wrath，it soothed his pride，When moody boyhood wept：‘Twas with him in his hour of glee，Gay sports，and pastimes rare；And at his sainted mother’s knee，Amid the evening prayer.
6.Plunging，he dared the breakers hoarse-None might the deed restrain-And battled with a maniac‘s force The madness of the main.
He snatched his sister from the wreck：Faint was her accent dear，Yet strong her white arms ’twined his neck-“Blest William！art thou here？”
7.The wild waves swell like mountains on，The blasts impetuous sweep；-Where is the heir of England‘s throne？
Go，ask the insatiate deep！He sleeps in Ocean’s coral grove，Pale pearls his bed adorn，A martyr to that hallowed love Which with his life was born.
8.Woe was in England‘s halls that day，Woe in her royal towers，While low her haughty monarch lay，To wail his smitten flowers：
And，though protracted years bestow Bright honour’s envied store，Yet on that crowned and lofty brow The smile sat never more.
-H.L.SIGOURNEY
中文阅读
1.一叶扁舟飞一般驶离高卢海岸，开始穿越蔚蓝的茫茫大海；船上洋溢着欢乐，众人高贵而气派，其中有我阿尔比恩a的王子，他正朝着他的王国欣喜而来；音乐渲染着激情与兴致，心花怒放的人们无不开怀。
2.从小舟望去，波澜壮阔，晴空万里，舟中飘飞的彩带，闪耀着独有的尊荣与魅力，浩瀚的大海神佑般眷顾着小舟，温柔的海风充当着强大的动力，a 阿尔比恩：即英格兰，原词Albion来源于拉丁语Albus，意为“白色”，据说是因为英格兰南岸是白色的悬崖峭壁。
连每一朵雪白的浪花似乎都知道，海面上这一叶扁舟的意义。
3.但异象突然来临，夏日的天空顿时布满乌云，阵阵阴风不断吹来，肆虐如武装的强敌。随后雷声滚滚，暴雨倾泻而下，血红的闪电猛然划过天宇，波涛中的小舟如今怎样？那可怕哭喊声是从何响起？
4.看哪！看哪！惊涛骇浪之中，有一个星点还在漂浮；如此快速推动小舟，可以想见操桨手是何等辛苦卖力。王子尚且无恙；但突然一声尖叫传来，让他紧张的双眼泛起泪光，脸色也变得苍白。
5.那个声音！他从童年开始就已熟悉，它曾陪伴他经历了多少甜美的梦境；他还是一个喜怒无常的小男孩时，它曾平息过他的愤怒，安抚过他那骄傲的心。它也曾陪伴过他的欢乐时光，一起奔跑撒野，一起欢笑嬉戏；还有童年时候，在妈妈的膝下，晚课时的窃窃私语。
6.他调转船头，拖着嘶哑的嗓音又进入波涛中去，没有任何力量能阻止他，他是在与疯狂力量进行搏斗，而这疯魔就是大海。
他从漏船之上救出了他的妹妹：而她已经奄奄一息，她用洁白的手臂搭住他的头颈，“上帝保佑威廉！你还在这里吗？”
7.狂澜高涨如山，惊涛扫荡着海面；英格兰的王子如今安在？
去吧，只有去问这贪婪的无底深渊！他正安息在海底的珊瑚苑，白色珍珠装点着他的卧榻，他那先贤般的神圣之爱，其实与生俱来。
8.那一天，悲痛笼罩着整个英格兰，更充塞着皇家宫苑，不可一世的君王已经倒下，伤心哀叹他早夭的爱子：即使岁月让他乐享天年，让他拥有更多让人羡慕的财产，与他又有何加焉？从此这张戴着王冠的高贵的脸，再也没有露出一次笑颜。
（H.L.西格尼a）
a H.L.西格尼：即Lydia Huntley Sigourney（1791~1865），19世纪美国著名女诗人。--译者注40STEPHEN斯蒂文
1135to 1154A.D.-19years（公元1135~1154年，在位19年）barons，nobles；chief men.
dungeon，prison.estates，own land.gained，won.
1.Although Stephen，Earl of
a
haughty，proud.
in his favour，on his side.permission，leave.skilful，clever.
Blois，
had sworn to support
Maud，he yet claimed the crown；and many of the nobles and clergy were in his favour，as they did not like to be governed by a woman.He promised that they should be allowed to build castles on their estates，and to hunt in their own forests.By such promises he gained over a great party，and was crowned.
SIEGE OF A NORMAN CASTLE.
2.But David，King of Scotland，who was the uncle of Maud，invaded England，laid waste Northumberland，and entered Yorkshire.Here he was metbby Stephen‘s barons，and a great battle was fought at Northallerton，in whichthe Scots were defeated.This was called the Battle of the Standard，because the English carried into the field a large cross hung with banners.
3.For some time after this the country was a scene of bloodshed.At last Stephen was defeated at Lincoln，taken prisoner，and cast into a dungeon in Bristol Castle.
a Blois.-In France；35miles south-west of Orleans.
b Northallerton.-Twenty-eight miles north-east of York.
4.Maud then became Queen；but her haughty spirit displeased the nation，and so great was the power raised against her that she had to flee.Her half-brother and chief supporter，Robert，Earl of Gloucester，was taken prisoner.He was exchanged for Stephen，who once more sat on the throne.
5.The following winter，Maud was besieged at Oxford.The ground being covered with snow，she dressed herself in white，that she might not be seen，crossed the Thames on the ice，and soon after escaped to Normandy.
6.Maud had a son named Henry，now almost grown up.By-and-by he invaded England to claim the throne.But Stephen agreed that at his death Henry should have the crown；and so the quarrel ended.Henry had not to wait long，for Stephen died in 1154，after a reign of nineteen years.
7.Stephen was brave，kind-hearted，and active；but he was not skilful or wise as a ruler.By his permission，one hundred and twenty-six castles were built in different parts of England，and the barons became very powerful.
中文阅读
1.尽管布洛瓦a伯爵斯蒂文曾发誓要誓死效忠莫德，但后来他还是来争夺王位了；而且当时很多王公贵族和教职人员都站在他这一边，因为他们都不愿意在一个女人面前俯首称臣。斯蒂文还郑重许诺，允许这些人在自己领地上修建城堡，也允许他们在自有的林地里自由打猎。这些承诺效果显著，很快为他赢得了众多支持者，并且让他最后成功加冕。
2.但莫德的叔父，苏格兰国王大卫率军入侵英格兰，将诺森白兰郡践踏成一片焦土之后，又挥兵约克郡。在这里他与斯蒂文的皇家部队正面相遇，两军在诺思阿勒尔顿b大战一场，最后以苏格兰人的失败而告终，这就是史上著名的“军旗之战”。之所以起这个名字，是因为英格兰军队在军旗上悬挂了一个巨大的十字架，以此彰显正义。
a 布洛瓦：地处法国，位于奥尔良西南35英里。
b 诺思阿勒尔顿：位于约克郡东北28英里。
3.从此之后，这个国家陷入了惨烈的长期混战。斯蒂文最终也在林肯郡被打败，成了俘虏，被囚禁在布里斯托尔城堡的地牢里。
4.莫德于是继位成为女王，但她骄傲自大的个性让国人很是反感，反对她的声浪持续高涨，叛军在各地风起云涌，她最终不得不落荒而逃。她的主要支持者，她的哥哥，格洛斯特伯爵罗伯特当了她的替死鬼，成了叛军的阶下囚。而他后来又被当作俘虏与斯蒂文进行交换，罗伯特获得自由，斯蒂文则又一次登上了王位。